Shruti Box Online - Free Tanpura Drone

What is an online shruti box?

An online shruti box is a browser-based drone that holds your reference pitch while you sing or play. In Indian classical music, that reference pitch is Sa. This page gives you a free shruti box online with tanpura-style plucks, so you can practise harmonium, Sargam, raga phrases, or vocal exercises without a physical instrument.

How to use this free online shruti box

Choose your Sa pitch, select a pattern, then tap Start. The cycle plays a low Pa, Ma, or Ni, followed by Sa, Sa, and a lower Sa. Choose the reference notes that match your exercise or teacher’s instructions. Open the web harmonium in a new tab to practise without navigating away from this drone. Some browsers may pause background audio, especially when a phone is locked; return here and restart if needed.

Shruti box online for harmonium and song practice

This shruti box online works best as the pitch center for a complete practice session. Start the drone here, review the web harmonium guide if you need the Sargam key map, then practise one phrase from the harmonium song notes. Keep Sa running while you repeat the phrase so your ear learns where the melody should settle.

Tanpura vs shruti box: which one should I use?

A tanpura is the traditional string instrument used for a rich, pulsing drone. A shruti box is usually simpler and reed-based, but it serves the same practical purpose for learners: keeping Sa steady. This page combines both ideas by giving you a compact online shruti box with a tanpura-like four-pluck pattern for daily practice.

Best Sa pitch for harmonium practice

If you are practising on harmonium, set Sa to the same key as your harmonium transpose setting. C4 is the default; choose a pitch where you can sing comfortably without strain. There is no single starting pitch for every voice. Use the Sargam tuner if you need help matching your voice to the drone.

Three ways to check whether the drone is helping

1. Stop singing after a phrase and listen for Sa. If the drone suddenly sounds unfamiliar, the phrase has probably drifted.
2. Sing Sa, Pa, and upper Sa without the harmonium. Each note should feel connected to the same center rather than like three unrelated targets.
3. Record thirty seconds with the drone quiet in the background. On playback, check the middle of held notes instead of judging only their unstable beginnings.

Common shruti box mistakes

• Drone too loud: lower it until it supports the voice instead of masking pitch errors.
• Wrong pattern: use the Ma pattern only when the exercise or raga calls for it; otherwise Pa is the simpler reference.
• Changing Sa mid-session: keep one root until the exercise is complete so the ear can build a stable center.
• Singing over every pluck: leave short spaces and check whether Sa can still be heard internally.